Pneumatic horn



Patented May 3, 1927.

GUY V. SPABLIN, OF TAMPA, FLORIDA.

PNEUMATIC HORN.

Application tiled October 24, 1925.

This invention relates to pneumatic horns, and has more particular reference to a device of this kind embodying a reed and pneumatic means for causing vibration of the reed so as to produce sound for amusement or signalling purposes.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a horn of the above kind embodying a removable sound amplifier and in which means is provided for varying the tone of the sound produced by the horn or for causing the device to emit a sound resembling greatly that produced by a whistle upon removal of the sound amplifier.

A further object of the invention is to provide a horn of the above kind wherein the sound produced may be varied for the purpose above mentioned through the lucdium of adjusting means for the reed and a removable sound amplifier carried by the body which supports the reed.

l/Vith the above general objects in view, and others that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combina- Ition and arrangement. of parts hereinafter more fully described. shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed:

ln the drawing. wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the severa] views.

'Figure 1 is a View partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation. of a horn constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially upon line Lf-f2 of Fig ure 1,

Figure 3 is a view similaito Figure takeni upon line flA--ft of Figure 1. and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure I. taken substantially' upon line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawing. the present invention embodies a cylindrical or elongated hollow body 5 which has a removable cap (S on one end. This cap has a central opening in which removably secured the end of a reed tube 7. The inner end of the reed tube 7 is cut away at, one side to provide an opening with which is associated the reed 8 which is preferably of metal and of a resilient nature sons to normally yieldingly flex away from the tube 7. Threaded transversely through a side of the body 5 is a set screw 9 which has relatively Serial No. 64,609.

fine threads and ,which is so arranged as to have its inner end bear against the reed 8 whereby, upon adjustment of said screw 9 the reed 8 may be flexed laterally toward the adjacent end of the tube i' or may be allowed to flex away from the same as desired. A lock nut l() is carried by the set screw 9 and arranged to bear upon the exterior surface ofthe body 5 for lockingy the adjusting screw 9 in any desired adjusted position. Removably carried by the cap 6 in which the tube 7 is mounted. is a sound amplifier 11 preferably of the tapered form shown. This sound amplifier may be'threaded onto the cap 6 shown. although other detachable means for securing thesame on the cap may be employed if desired. lVhen air is blown into the outer or inner end of the body 5 the reed 8 will be caused to vibrate, and by properly adjusting the screw 9 the tone of the sound emitted lnay be varied as desired. When the screw 9 is adjusted to a predetermined position and the sound amplifier 11 is in place upon the cap (i. the device will emit a sound greatly similar to horns used as signals upon vehicles or for various other purposes. n the other hand, by adjustingr the screw 9 to another position the reed will be so modified in action that when the amplifier ll is removed from the cap 6 the sound emitted will greatly resemble that produced by a whistle.

ln order to force air into the inner end of the body 5. l prefer to provide an elastic bulb l2 having one end connected by a fleX iblc conduit or tube 1? to the. inner end of the body and having an inlet at` its other end controlled by an outwardly seating check valve as generally indicated at 14. lt will thus bc seen that when the bulb 12 is compressed air will be forced into the body so as to acty upon theI reed 8 and cause the horn to emit a sound. lVhen this takes place the check valve at 14 is seated so as to prevent the escape of ai' from the bulb except through the tube 7. and upon release of the bulb the valve will be unseated so as to permit the entrance of more air into the bulb. This provides a means for supplying` air to the body which will eliminate the necessity ot' applying lips to a mouthpiece or the like i. s is necessary with many toy horns heretofore devised. The connection of the tube 13 with the bulb and the body is preferably a detachable one so as to permit the insertion of additional lengths of tubing in case it is desired to actuate the bulb 12 from a point remote from the point at which the body 5 is positioned. These detachable connections are nerally indicated at 15 and embody, as sie own, studs of hollow form through which the air Will pass. One of these hollow studs is preferably threaded in a central opening of a cap 16 removably secured on the other end of the body 5.

It will be seen that the screw 9 furnishes means for tine adjustment of the reed so that great number of small variations in sound may be provider] for or obtained. It is also apparent that the reed tube may be readily removed from the body with the' cap 6 and then removed from said cap to permit substitution of a new reed tube if found necessary or desirable. The new reed tube may be of a size or character different from that of the original for providing a further variation of sound, or it may be the same as the original and required by reason of breakage of or damage to the original.

Minor changes may he made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

A horn of the-character described com# prising a sound amplifier having a con-` 'ingr a pair of concentrically arranged longitudinally extendin aligned bores, one of greater Idiameter tian the other and each provided with screw threads throughout its ength. the bore of smaller diameter being in that end of the body having the external threads thereon, said bore of smaller `diameter. opening into the aligned other bore, a reed tube havingr one end threaded into said small bore, a reed carried by Suid tube and having one end fixed thereto, the other end being directed toward the forward end of the tube, an elongated tubular body encasing the projectingv portion ot' said reed and having one endy journaled into the bore of greater diameter, a cap member threaded upon the other end of said tubular body, and means for forcing air through said cap member, substantially for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature.

GUY V. SPARLTN. 

